Ananda literally means “bliss.” In Hinduism, ananda is the bliss beyond comprehension that is experienced when one is in communion with or has realized in totality the Godhead.

Ananda is seen as an aspect of the Divine and is often mentioned together with sat (divine being) and cit (divine consciousness). The term SAT-CHIT-ANANDA (divine being, consciousness, bliss) often appears in Vedantic contexts (see VEDANTA) and has become a proper name for SWAMIs or holy men.

Many teachers also have “ananda” appended to their names, such as Nikhilananda, “He who has realized total divine bliss,” or Satyananda, “He who has realized the divine bliss of the One Truth,” or Muktananda, “He who has realized the divine bliss in liberation from birth and rebirth.”

Ananda — Ānanda was one of many principal disciples and a devout attendant of the Buddha. Amongst the Buddha s many disciples, Ānanda had the most retentive memory and most of the suttas in the Sutta Pitaka are attributed to his recollection of the Buddha … Wikipedia

Ananda — /ah neuhn deuh/, n. fl. early 5th century B.C., favorite disciple of Gautama Buddha. * * * flourished 6th century BC, India First cousin and disciple of the Buddha. A monk who served as the Buddha s personal attendant, he became known as the… … Universalium